PDP, the ruling party of Jammu and Kashmir, today rejected the contention that the unrest in the state is because of its alliance with BJP and blamed the actions by Congress and National Conference since 1948 for the loss of trust in democracy among the people of the valley.
In a strong and emotional speech in the Lok Sabha during discussion on Kashmir situation, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the government of India should use its moral authority to resolve the problems of the state rather than using military authority.
Slamming Pakistan for its interference in Kashmir, he said people of the valley are being "misguided" and expressed faith in the Modi government, saying "if you can't do it (resolve the problems), who can do it?"
He wondered whether Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani, whose killing in an encounter with security forces has triggered the unrest, could have been arrested instead of being gunned down.
In this context, the former Minister of Jammu and Kashmir cited examples of how some militants had earlier given up the gun and contested elections to join the mainstream.
Rejecting allegations by critics like Congress that the current unrest is due to PDP joining hands with BJP to form government, Baig said, "nobody can accuse them (BJP) of being traitors".
Seeking to turn tables on opponents, he went back into history and clearly blamed Congress and National Conference, without naming them, for repeated controversial actions since 1948 when Prajapati Parishad was not allowed to contest polls.
He said Kashmiris lost faith in democracy due to actions like installing "un-elected governments" and dismissing elected governments since 1948 besides rigging elections.
He said the rigging of 1987 polls, allegedly by National Conference-Congress combine, was the "deepest cut" to the faith of Kashmiris in democracy as these elections had been contested even by those who did not believe in the Indian Constitution but wanted to repose trust in the poll process.
In this regard, he gave the example of the chief of militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, whose original name is Mohd Yusuf Shah, contesting the elections which were "rigged".
Baig said Yasin Malik, now the JKLF chief, was Shah's polling agent and was "tortured" by police after National Conference-Congress came to power following 1987 elections.
Taking objection to certain remarks of Baig against
Congress, party member K C Venugopal said the message should be given that the country is united on the Kashmir issue.
Referring to historical incidents, the PDP leader said a "fraud" had been played on Kashmiris by propagating that they are not pro-India and are pro-Pakistan.
Blasting Pakistan for interfering in Kashmir, Baig said the neighbouring country had become a victim of its own policies and as a result it has Balochistan "burning" and faces problems in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Appreciating efforts of the central government, Baig disapproved of criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Kashmir situation, saying he should not be dragged in each and every issue.
Referring to criticism in certain quarters that Modi was playing drums during his Africa visit when Kashmir was burning, Baig said the Prime Minister was "making history (in Africa)".
According to him, a kind of romanticism is being made about terrorism, which has become a business.
Talking about Wani's killing, Baig wondered whether he could have been arrested. "Was it possible to arrest or inevitable to kill?... He (Wani) was not an invisible ghost or an Osama Bin Laden... At least for the sake of having a good judgement, it should be looked into whether Wani could have been arrested," he said.
Taking objection to certain anti-Muslim remarks made by a leader whom he did not name, Baig said, "Muslims are as good an Indian as the Prime Minister... And Kashmiris are as good an Indian as Rajnath Singh."
When Venugopal intervened, the PDP leader said, "Aap logon ne hamari awaaz dabayi hai (you people have suppressed our voice)".
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs S S Ahluwalia told Venugopal that if "we don't allow him to speak in the tallest temple of democracy, then where is he going to speak".
He said Baig would continue to cite historical facts.
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Referring to demands for dialogue, the PDP leader said Hurriyat Conference should help in restoring peace in the valley.
He said while violence was taking place in south Kashmir, capital Srinagar was calm. "After this (his statement), it (violence) may spread to Srinagar also, he added.
"After this speech, I might be killed or my family might be targeted," Baig said, adding, however, that he did not care and would state the facts.
Coming down heavily on Pakistan, the PDP leader said whenever hands of peace are extended by India, those hands are snapped by the other side.
Underlining that there should be no killings, he said he feels sad for Wani's parents "who would have had lots of hope from him that he would take care of them in old age."
He said he also cries for the security personnel from various parts of the country who get killed while performing their duties in the Valley.
